Two Dead in Vibra Tank Blast in Volta Redonda as Regulator Shuts Base and Investigation Begins

Overview

• Firefighters recovered the two missing contract workers inside the tank at about 3:40 a.m. on Feb. 23 after fuel transfer and ventilation enabled safe entry, and evacuated residents were cleared to return home.
• A 24-year-old worker with severe burns remains sedated and on mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit, according to municipal and hospital officials.
• Brazil’s oil and fuels regulator ANP interdicted the Vibra distribution base, barred movement of hazardous products, and dispatched a technical team pending authorization to resume operations.
• The affected ethanol tank held roughly 350,000 liters at the time of the explosion, with an initial transfer of about 180,000 liters to other Vibra bases from a reservoir that can store up to 2 million liters.
• The blast occurred during maintenance reportedly involving welding by third-party contractors, and multiple agencies are conducting inquiries into the cause as Vibra provides support to families and covers evacuee lodging and transport; no environmental impact was reported.